Dynamics and Edge Effect of an Atlantic Forest Fragment in Brazil

ABSTRACT The woody plants in an edge area formed approximately 35 years ago in an Atlantic Forest fragment in northeastern Brazil were examined, and three environments defined: edge, intermediate, and interior. Canopy tree densities and basal areas were found to be similar in all three environments, and also similar to previous published studies in the same region; species richness was greatest at the forest edge. The understory showed greater species richness in the forest interior, but greater diversity and equitability in the intermediate environment. Understory environments close to the forest edge demonstrated larger stem diameters than in the forest interior, although at lesser densities and with smaller total basal areas. Our results indicated the existence of distinct patterns in canopy and understory that most likely reflect differences in the response times of these two vegetation layers, with the understory being more sensitive to alterations in environmental structure.

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Forest edge in the Brazilian Atlantic forest: drastic changes in tree species assemblages

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605304000754 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 38 (4) ◽

pp. 389-394 ◽

Cited By ~ 108

Author(s):

Marcondes A. Oliveira ◽

Alexandre S. Grillo ◽

Marcelo Tabarelli

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Tree Species ◽

Current System ◽

Forest Edge ◽

Species Assemblages ◽

Brazilian Atlantic Forest ◽

Forest Fragment ◽

Forest Interior ◽

The Mean ◽

Threatened Tree Species

In this study we surveyed all trees ≥10 cm diameter at breast height within 20 0.1 ha plots in a 3,500 ha forest fragment, surrounded by sugar cane fields, of the Brazilian Atlantic forest to compare tree species assemblages at the forest edge (0–100 m into forest) vs forest interior (>200 m). Plots were perpendicular to the margin. The mean number of tree species was significantly higher in the forest interior (35.4 ± SD 7.1 vs 18.4 ± SD 4.4). In addition, forest edge differed from interior in the proportion of shade-tolerant, emergent, large/very large-fruited species, and large-seeded tree species. Among the 134 tree species recorded, 24% were exclusive to the forest edge and 57% to the forest interior. Our results suggest that both the current system of protected areas and archipelagos of small fragments (1) tend to retain only a subset of the original flora, (2) will converge in terms of floristic and ecological composition (biotic simplification and homogenization), and (3) will lose rare and threatened tree species.

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Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) from a remnant of Atlantic Forest in Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Zoociências ◽

10.34019/2596-3325.2017.v18.24583 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Fabio Angelo Melo Soares ◽

Carlos Eduardo Borges Pinto Ribeiro ◽

Marcela Regina de Melo Daher ◽

Deoclécio de Queiroz Guerra ◽

Stephen Ferrari

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Forest Edge ◽

The State ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Stepping Stone ◽

Total Species Richness ◽

The Family ◽

Total Species

The RPPN Carnijó (08° 07’ 07” S, 35° 05’ 32” N) is a 25 hectare fragment of Atlantic Forest located in the municipality of Moreno, Pernambuco. Bats were sampled at this site during a total of 19 months between 2006 and 2008. Four mist-nets were set for six hours each night along trails, the forest edge, natural clearings, and over watercourses, while roosts were located during daytime searches. A total of 518 specimens were captured during 43 nights, representing 20 species in 16 genera. Total species richness was estimated to be 25.7 ± 2.0, and diversity was H’ = 2.07. The family Phyllostomidae predominated, with 98% (N = 509) of the specimens captured. The species recorded represent 28% of the known chiropteran fauna of the state of Pernambuco. The results indicate that the reserve may play a fundamentally important role in the maintenance of local biodiversity by acting as a “stepping stone” linking the larger fragments within the local landscape.

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Species richness and seasonality of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) in an urban Atlantic Forest fragment in Northeastern Brazil

Urban Ecosystems ◽

10.1007/s11252-006-0002-7 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 323-335 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Sidclay C. Dias ◽

Antonio D. Brescovit ◽

Erminda C. G. Couto ◽

Celso F. Martins

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Forest Fragment

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Edge effect on weevils and spiders

Web Ecology ◽

10.5194/we-3-43-2002 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 43-47 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

R. Horváth ◽

T. Magura ◽

G. Péter ◽

B. Tóthmérész

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Edge Effect ◽

Forest Edge ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

Oak Forest ◽

Forest Interior ◽

Significant Edge ◽

The Difference ◽

Sweep Net

Abstract. The edge effect on weevils and spiders was tested along oak forest – meadow transects using sweep-net samples at the Síkfökút Project in Hungary. For spiders the species richness was significantly higher in the forest edge than either in the meadow or the forest interior. For weevils the species richness of the forest edge was higher than that of the meadow, but the difference was not statistically significant whereas the species richness of the forest interior was significantly lower than that of the forest edge and the meadow. The composition of the spider assemblage of the edge was more similar to the forest, while the composition of weevils in the edge was more similar to the meadow. Our results based on two invertebrate groups operating on different trophic levels suggest that there is a significant edge effect for the studied taxa resulting in higher species richness in the edge.

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Feather mites (Acari, Astigmata) associated with birds in an Atlantic Forest fragment in Northeastern Brazil

Brazilian Journal of Biology ◽

10.1590/1519-6984.23313 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 75 (3) ◽

pp. 726-735 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

HM Silva ◽

FA Hernandes ◽

M Pichorim

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Bird Species ◽

Rio Grande ◽

Neotropical Region ◽

Species Level ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Forest Fragment ◽

Visual Examination ◽

Feather Mites ◽

First Time

AbstractThe present study reports associations between feather mites (Astigmata) and birds in an Atlantic Forest fragment in Rio Grande do Norte state, in Brazil. In the laboratory, mites were collected through visual examination of freshly killed birds. Overall, 172 individuals from 38 bird species were examined, between October 2011 and July 2012. The prevalence of feather mites was 80.8%, corresponding to 139 infested individuals distributed into 30 species and 15 families of hosts. Fifteen feather mite taxa could be identified to the species level, sixteen to the genus level and three to the subfamily level, distributed into the families Analgidae, Proctophyllodidae, Psoroptoididae, Pteronyssidae, Xolalgidae, Trouessartiidae, Falculiferidae and Gabuciniidae. Hitherto unknown associations between feather mites and birds were recorded for eleven taxa identified to the species level, and nine taxa were recorded for the first time in Brazil. The number of new geographic records, as well as the hitherto unknown mite-host associations, supports the high estimates of diversity for feather mites of Brazil and show the need for research to increase knowledge of plumicole mites in the Neotropical region.

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The genera Turnera and Piriqueta (Passifloraceae sensu lato) in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil

Rodriguésia ◽

10.1590/2175-7860201970054 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 70 ◽

Author(s):

Andréia Zelenski ◽

Rafael Louzada

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

New Record ◽

National Park ◽

The State ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Distribution Maps ◽

Taxonomic Treatment ◽

Semideciduous Seasonal Forest ◽

First Time

Abstract A taxonomic treatment of the genera Turnera and Piriqueta in the state of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil, is presented. Fourteen species of Turnera and six species of Piriqueta were found in the Atlantic Forest and Caatinga, of which nine are endemic to Brazil. Turnera pernambucensis is threatened and restricted to the Atlantic Forest of Pernambuco, while T. joelii is a new record for the state. The species predominate in steppe savanna and semideciduous seasonal forest, but several of them grow naturally in anthropized areas. Catimbau National Park is the locality with the highest species richness. Tristyly is recorded for the first time in Piriqueta guianensis. Identification keys, descriptions, illustrations, distribution maps, and comments about habitat, flowering, fruiting, and morphological relationships are provided.

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Zooplankton species distribution, richness and composition across tropical shallow lakes: A large scale assessment by biome, lake origin, and lake habitat

Annales de Limnologie - International Journal of Limnology ◽

10.1051/limn/2020023 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 56 ◽

pp. 25

Author(s):

Camila Rodrigues Cabral ◽

Leidiane Pereira Diniz ◽

Alef Jonathan da Silva ◽

Gustavo Fonseca ◽

Luciana Silva Carneiro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Species Distribution ◽

Shallow Lakes ◽

Aquatic Vegetation ◽

Habitat Type ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Similar Species ◽

Zooplankton Species ◽

Zooplankton Community Structure

Assessing zooplankton biodiversity is essential to support freshwater management/conservation programs. Here, we investigated the zooplankton community structure from 180 shallow lakes in northeastern Brazil and analyzed them according to biome (Atlantic Forest or Caatinga), the origin of ecosystems (natural or man-made lakes), and habitat type (pelagic or littoral). Additionally, we provided an updated list of zooplankton species. We registered 227 species (137 Rotifera, 65 Cladocera, 25 Copepoda). The most common species of each major group among all lakes were the cladoceran Ceriodaphina cornuta, the rotifers Brachionus havanaensis and Lecane bulla, and the copepod Termocyclops decipiens. Species related to aquatic vegetation, as the Lecanidae rotifers and phytophilous cladocerans, were more frequent along Atlantic Forest biome and natural lakes. On the other hand, species that are bioindicators of eutrophic waters were more common at the Caatinga biome and man-made lakes. Atlantic Forest and Caatinga biomes had similar species richness, but different community compositions for all zooplankton groups, reinforcing the Caatinga significance for the Brazilian aquatic biodiversity. The type of habitat was the most important factor structuring species richness, with higher richness in the littoral region when compared to the pelagic. A result of many unique species of Cladocera and Rotifera associated with the aquatic vegetation were observed. The findings demonstrated that conservation/management plans cannot generalize zooplankton species distribution across different biomes, origins and even within a single lake, between the pelagic and littoral zones.

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Species richness of anthophilous butterflies of an Atlantic Forest fragment in Southeastern Brazil

Revista CERES ◽

10.1590/s0034-737x2012000500001 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 59 (5) ◽

pp. 571-579 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Kelen Coelho Cruz ◽

Sileimar Maria Lelis ◽

Mariana Aparecida Silva Godinho ◽

Rúbia Santos Fonseca ◽

Paulo Sérgio Fiúza Ferreira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Minas Gerais ◽

The State ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

Forest Fragment ◽

Semideciduous Forest ◽

Minas Gerais State ◽

First Time

The objectives of this study were to identify anthophilous butterflies on psychophilous flowers of four Asteraceae species in an Atlantic Forest fragment in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Southeastern Brazil, and to determine whether there are species in common with other lepidopteran inventories of the Southeastern and Midwestern regions of Brazil. It is the first inventory of anthophilous butterflies of a semideciduous forest fragment in Zona da Mata, State of Minas Gerais. A total of 108 species were recorded, representing the fourth largest lepidopteran survey in this State. The results demonstrated that Asteraceae species may be important tools for monitoring anthophilous butterflies. The similarity with other inventories ranged from 1 to 92.55%. Fifteen species were reported for the first time in the State of Minas Gerais, and among them, Melanis alena and Thisbe irenea were observed in this study only.

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Edge effect on carabid assemblages along forest-grass transects

Web Ecology ◽

10.5194/we-2-7-2001 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 7-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

T. Magura ◽

B. Tóthmérész ◽

T. Molnár

Keyword(s):

Edge Effect ◽

Abiotic Factors ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Forest Edge ◽

Principal Coordinates Analysis ◽

Forest Interior ◽

Principal Coordinates ◽

Significant Edge ◽

Characteristic Species

Abstract. During 1997 and 1998, we have tested the edge-effect for carabids along oak-hornbeam forest-grass transects using pitfall traps in Hungary. Our hypothesis was that the diversity of carabids will be higher in the forest edge than in the forest interior. We also focused on the characteristic species of the habitats along the transects and the relationships between their distribution and the biotic and abiotic factors. Our results proved that there was a significant edge effect on the studied carabid communities: the Shannon diversity increased significantly along the transects from the forest towards the grass. The diversity of the carabids were significantly higher in the forest edge and in the grass than in the forest interior. The carabids of the forest, the forest edge and the grass are separated from each other by principal coordinates analysis and by indicator species analysis (IndVal), suggesting that each of the three habitats has a distinct species assemblages. There were 5 distinctive groups of carabids: 1) habitat generalists, 2) forest generalists, 3) species of the open area, 4) forest edge species, and 5) forest specialists. It was demonstrated by multiple regression analyses, that the relative air moisture, temperature of the ground, the cover of leaf litter, herbs, shrubs and canopy cover, abundance of the carabids’ preys are the most important factors determining the diversity and spatial pattern of carabids along the studied transects.

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Natural regeneration, composition and structure in a secondary Atlantic Forest fragment and in an abandoned Eucalyptus saligna Smith. (Myrtaceae) commercial plantation / Regeneração natural, composição e estrutura em um fragmento em sucessão secundária de Mata Atlântica e em reflorestamento comercial de Eucalyptus saligna Smith. (Myrtaceae) abandonado à regeneração

Brazilian Journal of Animal and Environmental Research ◽

10.34188/bjaerv4n2-082 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 2571-2585

Author(s):

Renata Picolo Scervino ◽

Lya Carolina da Silva Mariano Pereira

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Secondary Succession ◽

Woody Vegetation ◽

Canopy Openness ◽

Forest Site ◽

Forest Fragment ◽

Eucalyptus Saligna ◽

Litter Mass ◽

Commercial Plantation

The litter horizon on forests ecosystems acts on the nutrient cycling and on the soil’s microclimate conditions. However, to reforestation ecosystems the litter attributes can conduct to alterations that can diminish the seedling establishment, as well can act on the herbivory rates. In this context, this study aimed to verify the differences and relationships between woody species diversity, the herbivory index, the litter attributes, and the canopy openness among a fragment of Atlantic Forest on secondary succession and commercial plantation of Eucalyptus saligna Smith abandoned to regeneration. This study was conducted at the Klabin’s Company “Ecological Reserve”, at Telêmaco Borba – PR, Brazil. There weren’t observed differences on the species richness and abundance among the studied sites. Litter mass and thickness were higher in E. saligna environment. However, the litter attributes only presented relationship with the woody vegetation at the Atlantic Forest site, such as abundance and species richness with litter mass (r2=0.53 and r2=0.40, respectively) and abundance with litter thickness (r2=0.63). The herbivory index was greater on the forest patch. The canopy openness was superior in the E. saligna site. At this site, the herbivory index presented a positive relation with the canopy openness (r2=0.48) and a negative with abundance (r2=0.48). Abundance also presented a negative relation with the canopy openness (r2=0.58) in the E. saligna environment. The litter horizon on the E. saligna plantation doesn’t seem to offer restrictions to regeneration of the woody vegetation. However, at this site, the higher canopy openness and the herbivory pressure over the woody vegetation may lead to a lower rate of secondary succession compared to the Atlantic Forest fragment.

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